Nigeria’s Labor Union sets an ultimatum for reasonable minimum wage to be implemented in the country.
Nigerian labor unions, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Workers’ day celebration, were demanding a significant and reasonable increase in the minimum wage.
During May Day celebrations, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo jointly declared the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 to be inadequate due to inflation, food price increases, and rising energy and transportation costs that the country is experiencing.
They’ve proposed a new minimum wage of ₦615,000 and have given the President Bola Tinubu administration until the end of May to approve it.
Ajaero warned that if negotiations drag on beyond the deadline, “industrial harmony” cannot be guaranteed in the country. In his words, the government should do something before the deadline provided.
Osifo also called for the reversal of recent electricity price hikes for Band A customers, urging the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power companies to act within a week.
The demand for a higher minimum wage comes amidst ongoing fuel shortages across Nigeria. Long queues persist at gas stations despite the various assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to address the issue.